[00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: There’s a hollow feeling that hits us after the uniform comes off. You did everything right, but the mission is just gone. The team’s gone and the days start to feel like noise. You want your drive back. You want to wake up with purpose, feel useful again, and know that you still matter to the people who are around you.

Today’s episode. Talks about how service can keep going long after getting out of the military, even when anxiety PTSD and that lost feeling are riding in the passenger seat along with you. Our guest today, Lindsay Gutierrez, found her way back to meaning through advocacy community and a decision that was so intense.

Most people never even consider it. Uh, her decision to become a living organ donor and then doing it again. This is the kind of story that can shake you awake and point you toward your own next step, whatever that is for you. But before we get into this episode, I [00:01:00] wanna take a moment to raise awareness for something I feel is deeply important to our community.

The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. This organization is working to build a permanent national memorial in Washington DC to honor the service members, families, and civilians who are impacted by the global war on terrorism. This memorial will serve as both a tribute to those who served and a way to ensure that their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come.

If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can support their mission, visit GWOT memorial foundation.org. Now, let’s get into today’s episode.

[00:01:45] Scott DeLuzio: Hey, Lindsay, welcome to the show. Really glad to have you here.

[00:01:49] Lindsay Gutierrez: Thank you so

much for having me. I’m really excited to share my story.

[00:01:52] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah, absolutely. And I’ve,

We, we were talking a little bit before the episode started and before the recording started, I should say, and [00:02:00] I was saying, I’ve, I’ve been really interested in your story and. I’ve wanted to learn a little bit more about it. So I’ve been looking forward to this conversation for quite some time.

But before we dive into your story.

for the listeners maybe who aren’t familiar with you and, and your background and everything, could you just give a a little quick intro about yourself and, and who you are? Just for the listeners maybe who don’t like I said, don’t know who you are.

[00:02:21] Lindsay Gutierrez: Sure. So the short and sweet of it is I’m an Air Force veteran. I am a dual living organ donor, a social worker, military spouse, and a pig and pot, or, I’m sorry, Potbelly pig and dog mom. It’s a

mouthful to say all of that.

[00:02:39] Scott DeLuzio: And somehow you found time to squeeze in this interview, so I, I thank you for that with all the stuff you have going on.

[00:02:45] Lindsay Gutierrez: Yes,

[00:02:46] Scott DeLuzio: so.

Take us back a little bit you know, in, in your life as far as joining the Air Force, what, what kind of prompted you to wanna join the Air Force and not, you know, the Army, which obviously is way better.

And you know, what was [00:03:00] your, what...